Maine ranks high in rate of women murdered by men

PORTLAND, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- According to a report by the Violence Policy Center, Maine ranks ninth in the homicide rate of women murdered by men.

The center looked at homicide data from 2013. Nationwide, the homicide rate for one woman being murdered by one man in is country was 1.09 per 100-thousand. In Maine, it was 1.47. The state with the highest rate was South Carolina. That state's homicide rate was 2.32 per 100,000

The authors of the study are using it as a call to gun control. Nationwide, 94 percent of the women were killed by someone they knew, and the most common weapon used was a gun. Lois Reckitt, the executive director of Family Crisis Services, feels gun control is an issue in Maine. But she also says abusers need to understand that violence of any kind is unacceptable in the home.

Reckitt said, "Women are going to get killed no matter what, unfortunately, until the world wakes up to the problem that we have to stop doing this to the people that we supposedly love. And that's really the critical piece, I think."

The overall homicide rate in the state is low. So far this year, there have been 12 homicides in the state. The Department of Public Safety says 6 have been domestic violence related.

If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, help is available. The statewide domestic violence hotline is 1-866-834-4357. You also can click here.